Conventional generation

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Britain breaks coal-free record

The record for the longest period of coal-free electricity generation in Great Britain has been smashed. As of 6am today (Wednesday 29 April) the country had gone 19 days and six hours without coal - 24 hours longer than the previous high set last May. Read reaction and full details of the milestone.

5 years ago

Fallout from coronavirus pandemic expected to depress power prices for years

5 years ago

Stark words on urgent need for climate action in post-Covid world

The chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change talks to Utility Week about how coronavirus will affect the transition to net zero and whether behaviour changes adopted during lockdown can be sustained. Chris Stark looks at lessons from the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash and areas where a post-pandemic UK can immediately get back on track to decarbonisation.

5 years ago

Storms and lockdown make renewables Britain’s main source of power

5 years ago

Weekend press round-up: Ofgem ordered smart meter rollout to continue despite social distancing

Ofgem’s initial approach to smart meter installations came under fire in the national newspapers this weekend. There were also reports that the UK’s electricity demand has fallen by a tenth since a lockdown was imposed, while there were further updates on how utilities are responding to the pandemic.

5 years ago

Offshore wind on track to overtake onshore in 2020

5 years ago

Union calls for mass testing of power station workers

5 years ago

Carbon tax rises ‘could fund energy efficiency drive’

The government could siphon off a large chunk of the revenues from increased carbon prices to improve the energy efficiency of fuel poor households, according to a new report from the London School of Economics’ Grantham institute.

5 years ago

Capacity auction sees price rebound

5 years ago

Bid to overturn energy NPS launched

Ecotricity’s founder Dale Vince is backing a legal bid to force the government to review the planning policy statement that underpins new energy infrastructure projects. Vince, along with two other listed claimants, wants the government to re-examine the Energy National Policy Statement (NPS) on the grounds that it is out of date and does not reflect recent shifts in the UK’s climate change policy and international commitments.

5 years ago

UK’s carbon reduction targets still based on 80% threshold

A Parliamentary committee chair has accused the government of adopting an incoherent approach to carbon reduction, after it was revealed that targets are still based on the previous goal of cutting emissions by 80 per cent, rather than hitting net zero.

5 years ago

UK needs to more than double emission reductions to hit 2030 target

Analysis by Carbon Brief has found that the UK reduced carbon emissions by 28 per cent over the last decade, with 2019 seeing a 3 per cent reduction. In its efforts to reach net zero by 2050, the UK is aiming to reduce emissions by 57 per cent by 2030, on 1990 levels.

5 years ago

Oil giants join forces to create zero-carbon industrial cluster in Teesside

5 years ago

Drax considering alternatives to new gas turbines

5 years ago

Drax to cease coal generation from March 2021

5 years ago

Current policies ‘not enough’ to attract net-zero investment

5 years ago

ESO on creating a zero-carbon power grid

5 years ago

Capacity auction buys more than triple target volume

5 years ago

NIA calls for ‘unambiguous commitment’ to nuclear power

5 years ago

Target to end coal power brought forward

The government has pledged to eliminate coal power generation from the grid by 2024 – a year earlier than previously planned. Boris Johnson has also confirmed plans to bring forward the ban on petrol and diesel cars – including hybrids – by five years, to 2035. David Blackman looks at the figures behind the plans and gauges industry reaction.

5 years ago